Derrek Lee's Grand Slam, Chris Resop's Pitching Lead Pirates To Improbable 7-5 Win

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 3, 2011 6:15 PM EDT

So when our Pirates began the bottom of the seventh inning, they were tied with the Cubs 3-3. It had already taken a lot to get that far, as Chris Leroux had bailed Ross Ohlendorf out of a no-out, bases loaded situation in the fifth inning. But Daniel McCutchen came on in the seventh and put on the first four batters he faced, with two of those scoring. After that, the Pirates turned to the recently-unreliable Chris Resop with a two-run deficit, two runners on and nobody out. And then the game went into a long delay.

Game over, I thought. It was a game between two irrelevant teams right at the start of college football season. They easily could have just ended it there. And if they hadn't, the Pirates were already in a deep, deep hole.

But the game resumed at around 5:00 Eastern, four hours after it began. And Resop stranded both runners, getting the Cubs with a strikeout, a fly ball, and another strikeout. Then he pitched another scoreless frame in the eighth.

And then, Carlos Marmol. It was Marmol, you'll recall, who allowed that miraculous eighth-inning three-run homer by Michael McKenry on July 8. Well, this time, he put on Xavier Paul, Jose Tabata, and Andrew McCutchen, bringing up Derrek Lee - who just returned to the lineup - with two outs. And Lee hit a ball hard into the now-nearly-empty bleachers in left field, putting the Pirates up 7-5 with a grand slam.

From the camera angles I saw, the Bucs' reaction in the clubhouse was really funny. It wasn't outright jubilation. It was more like, 'Wow, I can't believe we got away with this.' Given everything the Pirates had against them - the rain delay, the way their offense has played recently, the game situation - it was another miracle that they won this one.

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That's how you win 70-75!

Suppose it’s meaningless in grand scheme, but still feels good. All Presley does is rake.

by Horace Clarke on Sep 3, 2011 6:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

With an honorable mention to Laroux

who came on with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth and retired all six batters he faced.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 3, 2011 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah. Good call.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 3, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Updated.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 3, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

This

was a gift from baby Jesus. Five Hundred here we come. This long national nightmare ends now. Sweep the punk Astros.

by Jerkstor on Sep 3, 2011 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Huge game from Leroux and Resop

Leroux could potentially be the 2012 version of Resop, it will be very nice to have both around.

Should the Pirates keep Neal Huntington?

http://www.bucsdugout.com/2011/5/16/2174135/poll-should-huntington-be-retained

by Kosstic518 on Sep 3, 2011 7:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Bulletproof!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQdC7h609k8

(Yes, I’m still trying to make Bulletproof happen.)

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Sep 3, 2011 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Proposed contract for DLee

1 year, $7.25 mil, $1 signing bonus with a club option for 2013. Would you take the gamble? I think we can be pretty certain of how it would pay off.

Basically, give him his current contract with a bonus and an option for more long-term security if he performs well.

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 7:32 PM EDT reply actions

*could pay off

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

What would he make in arbitration?

$8M or so?

by maguro on Sep 3, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

around there, could be a bit less as he's been somewhat disappointing this year

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd do it in a heartbeat.

The funny thing is that the $7.25 million is exactly what the Pirates option is for Doumit next year. So, if Doumit’s not coming back it’s seems that would be a very wise use of the money that you were scheduled to pay Doumit.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

to be honest, doumit is not worth that kind of money with McKenry proving himself to be a very solid catcher with some surprises in the bat. Putting that money into a question position that frees up incredible depth in G. Jones is a smart investment.

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I do like McKenry a lot.

That being said, I wouldn’t want to go into the year with a McKenry/Jaramillo catching duo.

I wouldn’t mind seeing the Pirates exercise the options on one of the 2 catchers (Snyder’s is $6.75m next year). My preference would be to see a Snyder/McKenry tandem, but I wouldn’t be upset with a Doumit/McKenry. But I certainly believe that McKenry has proven his worth to be an almost certain lock on the roster for next year (unless, of course, Yadier Molina says that he’ll only play for the Pirates next year if he’s the only catcher on the roster…..of course, McKenry might be able to make the transition to third base full time….)

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry, I know McKenry seems to have solid defense, but a .234/.271/.335 line is just plain putrid

I mean, when you are OPSing about 50 points less than Ronny Cedeno is this season, there’s very little nice to say about your bat.

by Justin Mos on Sep 3, 2011 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

McKenry DOES have solid defense

and a .606 is not all that bad an OPS for your #8 hitter. That’s the kind of guy who will give you one hit a game, and sometimes surprise you with a few doubles. That’s not “good hitting,” but it’s what you expect and ask for of a defensive catcher who handles pitchers well and calls a good game.

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

And that’s fine, as far as that goes, but you probably shouldn’t go into a season with a guy like that as your top option.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 3, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think you can, as long as the rest of your lineup is set

D. Lee is a much safer bet than Doumit for injury reasons. In all likelihood, we’ll see McKenry more than anyone else next year for durability reasons, anyway

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

“As long as the rest of your lineup is set”

This is the Pirates we’re talking about. I like the idea of having McKenry on the roster, but the Bucs just can’t go conceding entire lineup spots on the offensive side. Not that I think it would be particularly wise to do that in any case.

by Charlie Wilmoth on Sep 3, 2011 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure...

Presley 9
Tabata 7
McCutchen 8
Lee 3
Alvarez 5
Walker 4
Ronny 6
Fort 2
Pitcher

…that’s a very solid major-league lineup, and allows a bench of:

Wood
Jones
Jaramillo
Harrison

There’s a lot, a lot of depth there.

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I personally think the idea of going into 2012

with McKenry and Jarmillo as your catchers is just asking for a disaster. In the lineup you list Tabata, Lee, Alvarez Cedeno and Mckenry have all been below average hitters for their position this season with a couple of those guys far below average.

Fort is a good backup as long as you don’t have to use him too much or he might be OK if you’ve got six or seven solid hitters around him, but I don’t see that in your lineup unless several guys make huge steps forward next season.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 3, 2011 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

it comes down to this:

Lee is a better bet to produce than Doumit for injury reasons, for comparable price. Would you rather concede to use the fort and have first locked down, or use Jones at first, sacrificing outfield depth, and risking a costly injured Doumit? I’ll bet good money that McKenry plays at least 81 games next year, no matter what ends up happening.

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s not really that way though. There are more than 2 options. We could use that dough on a pitcher, a 3B, a different C or 1B.

We could also pay both those guys if we want. Lee is also just as much an injury risk; I’d prefer an incentive-laden contract with either player.

by Mr. E on Sep 3, 2011 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

Especially when you have team options on Snyder and Doumit. No need to throw them BOTH away in order to have McKenry and Jaramillo. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.

I’d say you definitely keep one of those (unless you find something else on the open market) and McKenry becomes the back-up.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, I was agreeing with WestCoastBuc when I said agreed.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Right, totally forgot about Snyder

Still, if you’re gonna pay for those options, or even one of them, you are taking quite a risk on proven injury-prone guys…

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is all the worse if you're going to dish out FA money for a first baseman

by rennais94 on Sep 3, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Everyone's entitled to their opinions, of course...but

every single day that the Pirates have Doumit or Snyder on their roster, they are a much, much, much better team than when they have Jaramillo.

Even if it’s for 100 games or whatever, I’d take the risk. Worse case, if your starter (Doumit or Snyder) gets hurt, then it falls right back to your line-up of having McKenry/Jaramillo (or Fryer or whomever).

You’re paying minimum for McKenry/Jaramillo/Fryer…why not put a few million into a proven MLB starter who makes your team much better when he’s on it.

And it doesn’t have to be Snyder or Doumit. It just seems that with either of those guys, you don’t have to bid against anybody else, they are sitting there in your lap for a predetermined price, if you want either of them.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

If McKenry plays 81 games next year, the Bucs are in trouble...

by NastyNate82 on Sep 3, 2011 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

jarmillo

IMO will not have a spot on this roster next year. Fort is better defensively, and JJ has not been good with the stick either. I have stated that i want Doumit back, given the options that is the way to go.

by bbautista24 on Sep 3, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I was responding to Rennais94

who did have JJ on his roster. I agree with you as I would like to see Doumit back too.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 4, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't

For evaluation purposes, I’d prefer to go with his Baltimore stat line. It’s hard for me to get past that .706 OPS. I’m trying to recall any discussions on this forum where anyone was recommending $7 mil+ for that level of production.

Plus, he’ll be 36 next year, and I don’t think we can count on him getting better next year.

by mocasdad on Sep 4, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Personally, if there's no better options out there on the FA/trade market...

I’d be easily be willing to give Lee 8 or 9 million for next year….

Anything to keep that bat (and glove…let’s not forget that Lee still plays a very solid 1B) here for another year.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

How about the Pirates sign Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez next year...

for about $20 million combined?? That would make for a very happy off-season!

I’m going to be interested to see what Ramirez gets on the open market (assuming the Cubs don’t exercise the $16m option).

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I could go for that

as long as there is good reason to believe that Lee can return to his 2009 form, but that was a long time ago in baseball terms.

I hate playing the Cubs because every time Ramirez bats, it reminds me that he used to be a Buc and we traded him away for essentially nothing.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 3, 2011 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions

as long as there is good reason to believe that Lee can return to his 2009 form

I don’t know….after watching the Clement/Pearce/Jones/Doumit/Bowker/Overbay (who else did I forget) merry-go-round in the post-LaRoche days….I think the 2010 version of DLee will do just nicely!!

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Jones has actually hit better than Lee has this season

as a whole. You can look it up. I imagine we would have a different view of Lee if we had watched him through his performance with Baltimore this season. His line there looks a lot like that of Jones for the season and Jones will be a lot cheaper.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 3, 2011 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't get me wrong. I'm a big Garrett Jones fan, but the guy is not a good first baseman.

The nice thing is that this isn’t an either/or. The Pirates can have BOTH. But, I’d take DLee as the everyday 1st baseman and have Jones float between RF and 1B. I wouldn’t even mind seeing Jones out in LF for a few games here or there.

Just as a bit of a curiosity… but what about Jones taking a bunch of reps at 3B in the off-season?? I think it would do a world of good for Jones’ future to be able to play (at least reasonably) all 4 corner spots. You may think he’s too old, but Pearce starting learning 3B at the age of 28. I think that Garrett Jones could ensure himself of a long career with that bat, if he can find a way to turn himself into a very valuable bench guy who spot starts or even platoons at various positions.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Jones will never play third

He throws left handed. The last time a left handed thrower played third was in 1997 when Mario Valdez stood out there for one inning against the Pirates after entering as a pinch hitter.

by ElDuce on Sep 3, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah...well....in a couple of weeks, they're going to see the last lefty to play at 3rd base....

it might be interesting to ask Don Mattingly since he’s the last one to play a few times at 2B and 3B.

by impliedi on Sep 3, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m pretty sure his line in Baltimore is closer to Overbay than Jones. Lee isn’t getting any younger either

by Mr. E on Sep 3, 2011 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Um, his stats in Baltimore weren't THAT bad.

If 12 HRs and a .706 OPS in 85 games in an Oriole uniform is considered a massive slump for Derrek Lee, sign him up!!!

Let’s not forget Garrett Jones’ OPS in 2010 was .720. I love Garrett Jones as much as many people, but I think some people pull out the ol’ rose-colored glasses when it comes to him. If his stats remain the same, Garrett Jones will have exceeded a .770 OPS only in his fantastic half-season in ‘09. Derrek Lee has not finished even a half season BELOW .770 since 1999!! (Though he may this year, but I’ve got a strange feeling that he won’t). Please, Garrett Jones is not anywhere near an even aging Derrek Lee.

And before we get too excited about the OPS stat, in just SIX games with the Bucs, Lee has been able to raise his season OPS by 32 points!

by impliedi on Sep 4, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

It's not considered a slump

it just might be his actual talent level at this point in his career. He’s worth a roster spot, but not $7m and 550 PA.

Jones is fine when used properly (RHP) but no one is penciling him in as the starter either. He’s a very nice fallback option though.

by Mr. E on Sep 4, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah.

I hope that some day the Yankees will hate playing us because they gave us Tabata for essentially nothing.

So onto my love rocket, climb, Inside tank of fuel is not fuel, but love.

by IAPiratesFan on Sep 3, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions

A writer at Hardball Talk today suggested Lee would be lucky to get half of his current $7.25 million this offseason. Of course the Pirates gave Overbay $5 million when he looked like an NRI at best this offseason, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave Lee a ton.

by ElDuce on Sep 3, 2011 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Whoa.

After I got monsoon’d on at the Hawkeye game, I saw a 3-2 Cubs lead and then later on while trying like hell to get out of Iowa City (because Iowa City is really boring) I saw that the Cubs had taken a 5-2 lead. I’ll be sure to watch this after I get back from dinner with the family.

So onto my love rocket, climb, Inside tank of fuel is not fuel, but love.

by IAPiratesFan on Sep 3, 2011 8:16 PM EDT reply actions

I actually turned this game off during the bottom of the 8th to work on grad school material. sheesh.

by ibuc05 on Sep 3, 2011 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

Things worked out a lot better for me

I took a little nap during the bottom of the 8th and woke up just as Lee was stepping to the plate in the ninth.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 3, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

My power went out for two hours towards the end of the rain delay. My buddy called after the Grand Slam and I listened to the bottom of the ninth in my car.

Put on your dancin' shoes.

by PensFan024 on Sep 3, 2011 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I realize that it's just two games we are talking about, but...

I posted on the Dodgers game thread that the fact that the team didn’t roll over and die at the end, instead fighting for some runs in the 9th for the first time in (what seems to me to be) a long time, boded well, and that we were ready to turn the corner.

Okay, it’s the Cubs, but the last two games have had that “June feeling” again… today’s Grand Slam made me cheer as much as I did for the McKenry HR.

Although looking beyond tomorrow’s game could be dangerous, I’m feeling quite certain that we aren’t going to get swept by the Astros in PNC Park… it’ll be payback time.

by Chileburger on Sep 3, 2011 9:11 PM EDT reply actions